Stephanie Harmon – Owner of Hustle & Flow Dance Studio

Stephanie popped down to meet me the same day I called her to ask if she would be interested in partnering with Athleta for a December dance class. I hope she was excited but it felt like a business meeting from the beginning. No bullshit. Zero time for games. She didn’t commit immediately but was open to hear what we expected and what our ideas were.

She was straight, this isn’t about what clothing line is cool or not. That’s not what she’s about or her studio. This is about movement. Celebration of freedom through dance. I wanted these things too. So she agreed to teach a class at Athleta and let me come to her studio with a bunch of Athleta marketing materials. She was gracious and open-minded and I’m grateful for it.

I feel fortunate to have met Stephanie. I’m lucky that the people of Portland spoke loud and proud when I asked around for awesome dance studios and the number one place that got mentioned was Hustle and Flow. I love love love to dance and this studio makes it easy to tap into that amazing momentum from music to movement that happens organically when humans let ourselves just be.

The space Stephanie, her studio manager Carla, and their amazing community have cultivated is truly incredible. From their website:

Hustle and Flow is Portland, Maine’s most eclectic movement studio, right in the heart of the West End. We offer Dance, Fitness, and Yoga classes infused with humor, sweat, and innovation. Our connection to the diverse people in our community, the passion we put into our classes and creating empowerment through movement are the driving forces behind our mission to create a welcoming, liberating space for all movement practitioners in our little-hidden gem of a studio.

What does your self care/love routine look like? Lots of cat snuggles, talking about goals and future plans with my hubby, being in the presence of my close friends, dancing, getting therapeutic massage, drinking coffee by myself and enjoying silence.

Describe your fitness/movement routine in one sentence: I spend most of my time moving and shaking. I have certain classes I teach every week, 4 of which are cardio dance fitness classes: one is a cardio, strength and mobility type class and the other one is a choreography dance class. I also take 3-4 dance classes a week and at least one stretchy yoga type class. It’s a different experience when I can be the student. I really enjoy being the teacher and the student.

It seemed to happen pretty organically. I was a student of dance and fitness, I became a teacher and ultimately wanted to have my own business with my own vibe and my own ideas.

When do you feel the most successful?

I feel most successful when I follow through with an idea that ignites my fire and other people enjoy it as much as I do.

What is one challenge you faced getting to where you are now?

The biggest challenge is not moving on from something that isn’t working, even if I really want it to. Sometimes classes just don’t catch on and it is hard to decide when to end a class or change it. I am better about figuring those things out faster these days!

What accomplishment are you most proud of?

It feels like quite an accomplishment to have such a talented crew and an amazing community that genuinely love to work out and groove together. We have done a lot together, like making videos, participating in the Pride Parade, developing our own signature classes etc. but it’s the experience of it all that I feel proud of.

What advice would you give women who want to enter the wellness & health industry?

Be authentic. Don’t try to replicate another person or studio. Do your own version of what you love. When you unapologetically bring exactly what you want to your business or brand you attract your crew, the people who truly are excited and passionate about what you are.

What has been your favorite continuing education, certification or training?

The most life changing training I received was in January 2018 when I spent 30 days in Guinea, West Africa for a West African Dance Intensive with multiple master dancers and drummers. I was completely out of my element and felt extremely vulnerable. I questioned myself as a dancer and choreographer, but when it was said and done, I had learned 20 choreographies in one month, which is 15 more than I usually learn in a month! The whole lifestyle and culture was completely different and it really opened my eyes to a world most of us don’t see. What I love the most was that everywhere we went there was song, dance, drumming and beauty among a very challenging environment, government and economy.

Best piece of advice you’ve ever received?

Learn to respond, not react.

Final outfit choice: Athleta leotard & track pants. YES.

Stephanie, thank you.

Thank you for being your authentic self and allowing your dreams to manifest into this bad ass studio. I love how you follow your passions unapologetically. It resonates with me and I can only imagine how many others you’ve inspired.

Your crew is crazy cool and I can’t wait to take classes with the whole Hustle and Flow team.

I keep meaning to ask you your sign – let me know when I see you in class. 😉